For more than 29 years, Service Industry News has served as the voice of the pool and spa service professional. A twice monthly newspaper, the staff covers featured stories on equipment installation, trouble-shooting and repair; water chemistry and business issues facing the industry; and news pertaining to the interests of the pool and spa technician.

In addition to the newspaper, we have produced three technical books used throughout the industry as training and reference guides. The Professional Pool Technicians' Guide to Chlorine, Guide to Alternative Sanitizers and the Guide to pH, Alkalinity, Water Testing and Water Balance are compiled from articles that originally appeared in our newspaper.

We've also updated and republished an industry classic on pool care, Charlie Taylor's Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Pool Care. This light, easy-to understand and illustrated book has long been a part of any complete library on pool care. Now, it's also available in Spanish!

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Consider all variables when picking a start-up

Not all pool and spa service professionals are willing to perform new pool chemical start-ups. In an increasingly litigious world, the wide array of plaster problems that may result, either from poor plaster workmanship techniques, or improper water chemistry, may cause some service technicians to decide that it is simply not worth the risk.

There’s also the fact that the interior cosmetic finish of a pool or spa is handcrafted in an uncontrolled environment. So even if the plasterer did a perfect job, and even if the water chemistry is spot-on, some environmental conditions can lead to discolorations, crazing, cracking and surface staining.

Then there’s the nature of the plaster itself, and the type of pigment or dye that may have been added for effect. Due to these sorts of variables, many plastering companies now come armed with the following disclaimer:

Since pool plaster is composed of natural materials that have certain inherent characteristics, some amount of shading or color variation is a natural occurrence which should not be construed as a defect and which only enhances the natural beauty of your pool. Homeowner agrees that the plaster is NOT guaranteed for evenness of color and may not be the exact shade anticipated. The shade and color may vary and fade over time. The plaster may become streaked, blotchy, or have a mottled appearance over which the contractor has no control.

Date & Signed:___

But even with a signed disclaimer such as this, there are times when a new or newly re-plastered pool develops an appearance that the homeowner finds simply unacceptable. With the ongoing industry disagreement as to the causes of certain plaster defects, some service professionals may be leery of touching a freshly plastered pool.

But for those who are willing to take the risk, new pool start-ups provide one of the easiest ways to secure ongoing service accounts.

The main objective in a pool start-up is to prevent, clear, or get rid of plaster dust, which is a natural by-product of the curing process.

If left unchecked, however, this dust will harden and become bonded to the finished surface, and can result in a rough and discolored-looking surface.

In this issue of Service Industry News, we’ll present the three popularly recommended start-up methods that each promise to achieve a beautiful plaster surface.

Write to Service Industry News and let us know which method you prefer and why.

Email your preference to serviceindustrynewscd@yahoo.com.

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